Powerfilters are the easiest and least complicated of all the saltwater aquarium filter systems available on the market right now.
The mechanism is simple the power filter pulls the water into the filter media and is pumped back to the aquarium.
The filter hangs on the outside of the aquarium and is powered by a motor. The filter is made of filter floss or sponges and activated carbon filter media. The water enters the filter by a U-shaped intake tube and flows to the media and reenters the saltwater aquarium by another tube or a spillway.
The external Power Filter provides both mechanical and chemical filtration. The biological filtration is only established when the filter matures and bacteria colonize it.
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The filter provides all three kinds of filtration. It also circulates water, which provides aeration and water circulation in the aquarium.
These kinds of filters are easy to maintain. You can simply replace it. Most comes in simple cartridges.
They are ideal for aquariums that also have an undergravel filter system or a live rock.
Some of the external powerfilters come with a smart option called biowheel. Biowheel comes in contact with air and water in the filter. Water moves through the filter, the wheel spins and expose the bacteria that live on the wheel to air and the water.
This system provides enhanced biological filtration when bacteria get sexposed to air making it efficient for the conversion of ammonia.
Biowheel also help keep the bacteria even if you have to replace the internal filter media. It is available as an external powerfilter or as a separate unit that hang on the back of your aquarium. It is powered by a powerhead or a canister filter.
These are basically similar to external powerfilters but are placed on the inside the aquarium.
The benefit of this kind of filter is that they provide an excellent water movement since they are usually placed near the bottom of the aquarium which is where dead spots that may occur in your salt water aquarium.
But a disadvantage is that it takes up valuable space inside and blocks the view. But newer versions are now available as decoration inside your aquarium which you can use for aquascaping.
See Filters for Saltwater Aquariums.
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